This month, in cities and towns all over the U.S., Unbound sponsors will be receiving Christmas cards from their sponsored friends. A small expression of cheer, gratitude and creativity, these cards have become a cherished Unbound tradition. But what sponsors may not realize is that when their card arrives in their homes it is at the end of a very long journey.

In most of our 21 countries, the process of creating Christmas cards begins in the summer. Following a few practical guidelines set by the Kansas office, the various project staffs form their individual plans. Some will create themes or design templates, while others set wider parameters that allow for more personal creativity.

Juan Jose is your typical 13-year-old. He lives with his mom and grandmother in Antioquia, Colombia. He attends school, loves hanging out with his friends and has dreams of becoming a famous Olympian.

But Juan Jose has a little secret.

He only has one kidney. It keeps him from playing contact sports, like football, basketball and soccer, with his friends.
Instead of letting this hold him back, he channels his energy and efforts into swimming.

“I love to swim now!” he said. “I like swimming because we get resistance and we work out with all the muscles. I feel that I am free, and I have discovered that I am a good and fast swimmer.”

Through his chosen sport, Juan Jose has overcome other medical problems.

“I have asthma but I do not give up when I have competitions and I continue until I finish. I always want to be the best despite my health limitations,” he answered when asked about any obstacles in his life.

Even though training is from 6 am to 8:30 am, Juan Jose still said, “I enjoy training because it has helped me to get my health problems under control.”

Though he is a shy boy, his grandmother remarked that he is “disciplined and a fighter for his dream [of reaching the Olympics] and does not care about his health limitations.” Like most grandmothers, she is incredibly proud of him and his accomplishments.

With his most memorable moment listed as signing up for a swimming league, Juan Jose has even bigger dreams for the future. He hopes to “have the chance to represent my town in other cities. Maybe someday I will have the chance to participate in the Olympic Games to represent my country.”

We here at Unbound will be rooting for you, Juan Jose!

Contributions to Health help support many services, including therapeutic services for sponsored friends with special needs. Donate today!

A powerful statement not often spoken. It offers up a pure form of confidence in the people who need it most.
In this blog post, we will show you how to write this powerful statement in 18 languages. You can even send one of these translations in a note to your sponsored friend.

Uganda:

Luganda is a major language spoken in Uganda. In Luganda, “I believe in you” translates to “Nkukiririzaamu.”

International Literacy Day is Sept. 8. It was started by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) and first celebrated in 1966. The observance helps raise awareness that there are millions of people worldwide who lack basic reading and writing skills. Numerous studies have shown a direct link between illiteracy and poverty, especially as more jobs require reading skills.

It’s that time of year again! For many children in the United States, school is back in session. Have you ever wondered what school is like in your sponsored friend’s country? Take a look at our infographic featuring grade levels around the world.

At Unbound, sponsorship helps children go to school, have healthy diets and improves the living situation for the entire family.
But it’s more than just tangible goods.

Sponsorship also creates a one-to-one connection between the sponsor and the sponsored friend. They get to know one another through notes and photos, and the sponsor gets to see how sponsorship impacts the sponsored friend’s life.

Neha, Mateo and Daphine are all waiting to start that connection.

Help us find sponsors for these three kids. Share this post on social media and let’s get them sponsored.

Tomorrow, June 21, marks the official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer is a time for many people to spend outdoors and soak up the sun. To celebrate the season, here’s a photo gallery of sponsored children around the world showing you what they love to do in warmer weather.

Geraldine, a sponsored child in Mexico, relaxes with her teddy bear in her hammock at home. Lounging in a hammock is the perfect summer activity, don’t you think?

Sponsored children Chantal, second from left, and Lisandra, third from left, take a stroll with their family on the beach of Livingston, Guatemala. Now that’s a nice way to stay cool in the summer heat.

Sponsored children in Guatemala say hello to summer, swing sets and fun times with friends.

“I live near to the beach but we never go there because my family does not have money to take the bus. I want to go in the ocean, but I don’t know how to swim. I want to see the landscape and the ships.” — Andres, a sponsored child in Cartagena, Colombia. Sponsored children in Cartagena visited the beach for a kids’ day out.

Leidy, a sponsored child in Guatemala, jumps rope in her yard — a great game for a single player.

Recess! Sponsored girls in Hyderabad, India, take a break from their schoolwork to have some fun on the playground.

Sponsored children play in the Pamucutan River of the Philippines to escape from the heat of the sun.

Leidy, a sponsored child in Guatemala, shows her little brother Melvin how to ride a bicycle.

Sponsored friends in Cartagena, Colombia, traveled to the beach for a recreational outing. Some of them had never visited the ocean before, and they loved every minute of it!

Bouncy castles and summer are just plain meant for each other, and it looks like Madhusha, a sponsored child in India, agrees with us. Sponsored children and their families get a day of fun and excitement for their annual family fun fest.

Football, soccer or kickball, whatever you call it, this outdoor game is perfect for a summer day. Sponsored children in Kenya are organized into teams and play each other on the field.

Although many sponsored children in Cartagena, Colombia, live near the beach, some had never visited before because of the transportation costs to get there and the high-priced tourism nearby. They said visiting the ocean was like a dream — feeling the warm water and playing games with their friends.

Elderly people need sponsors, too! We have several elders on our waiting lists who would love to have someone to write to and share their joys. Check out the list below for some of those who need a sponsor.